US2106922A - Flickering device - Google Patents

Description

Patented Feb; 1, 1938' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claim.

This invention relates to electric flickering or pulsating devices adapted for use in connection with various types of electric, or neon signs, toys, display advertising, etc., etc.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of this nature, comprising gravity and electro-magnetic control means for making and breaking the electric circuit to cause the flickering action.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character referred to having a spring metal pulsating contact arm upon which there is slidingly mounted a magnetically controlled weight for controlling the rateof pulsation of the said arm.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a device in which the magnet as well as the pulsating arm weight is adjustably mounted for controlling the rate of pulsation of 20 the device.

Another object is to produce a device of the character described in which the maximum simplicity of construction and operation is secured.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel arrangement and co-relation of parts herein fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein similar reference characters are used to describe corresponding parts throughout the several views, and then finally pointed out and specifically defined and indicated in the appended claims.

The disclosure made the basis of exemplifying the present inventive concept suggests a practical embodiment thereof, but the invention is not to be restricted to the exact details of this disclosure,and the latter, therefore, is to be understood from an illustrative, rather than a restrictive standpoint. I

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which, for the purpose of illustration, is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which- 5 Figure 1 is a front view of my improved flickering device with the front wall of the casins Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical connections or circuit.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, iii in-- dicates a casing in which my improved pulsating device is enclosed. Mounted upon a pair of supports Ii is an electro-magnetic coil i2 having a core l3 provided with an arm or extension It at right angles thereto. The posts I i are secured to' the base it of the casing in by means of screws I5.

Between the end walls I6 and I! of the casing there is provided a central wall l8 to which is suitably secured a bracket IS in which there is screw threadedly maintained a threaded post 20, terminating in a tungsten tip 2i. When properly adjusted the post is locked in position by a lock nut 22. Secured to the wall l8, directly above the bracket I9 is an arm 23 preferably made of spring sheet brass of suitable thickness. The said spring arm is provided intermediate its ends with a stud or post 24 having a tungsten tip 25 adapted to normally contact the terminal or tip 2| of the screw post 20. The free end of the spring arm 23 is provided with a siidable iron or steel weight 26 which may be secured in place by means of a. screw 21.

Electrically connected by means of a screw 36 to the bracket I9, is a wire 3| which leads to an electric source of current supply which may be an electric battery or an alternating or direct current generator not shown. Connected to the spring pulsating arm 23 is a wire 32 having a branch 33 connected to one end of the electromagnetic coil l2 and a second branch 34 which may lead to an electric socket or as shown in Fig. 5 to one terminal of an electric light bulb 36. The circuit is completed by means of a wire 36 which leads from the electric light bulb to the electric source of supply and is connected to the opposite end of the electro-magnetic coil l2 by a branch wire 31.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the current is turned on, it will flow through the wire 3| to bracket i9 thence through the posts 20 and 24 to the arm 23 wires 32 and 33 to the coil i2 and through the electric light bulb 35 and thence back to the source of supply through the wire 36. When the current flows through the coil l2 the armature i8 and arm I will become magnetically energized and draw the weighted spring arm 23 upwardly and break the electric contact between the posts 20 and 24 causing a deenergizing of the armature l3 and a consequent dropping of the arm 23 to again contact the posts 20 and 24 to once more armature to again break thecircuit, the said operation continuing until the current is turned oil. It will be understood that with uchpulsation of the arm II the electric light ll goes on and oil or flickers.

The duration and frequency or the pulsations may be varied by moving the weight 20 towards or away from the contact posts 20 and 24. The nearer the weight is moved to the contact points the more rapid the pulsations and the further away the slower the pulsations. the effective result of such adjustment being the shortening or lengthening of the arm 28, and the consequent shortening or lengthening of the duration of the pulsations.

In Fig. 4, I have shown a modified form or the invention wherein the armature ll is not provided with the extension I4, but the entire electro-magnetic coil I! may be moved inwardly or outwardly to correspond with the movement or the weight 2 so as to maintain the said weight within the magnetic held of the coil II. This is accomplished by providing slots I through which the screws I! which secure the posts II to the base i4 pass. By loosening the said screws it the coil I! may be moved to any desired position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple and efllcient pulsating device which may be used wherever a flickering light is desirable.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A pulsating device comprising a base, an electro-magnet supported above said base and having a core provided at one end with a lateral 9,100,022 complete the electric circuit and energize the extension, a support rising from said base and spaced from the magnet longitudinally of the side arm 01' the core, a bracket carried by said support and adapted to have a conductor connected thereto, a contact carried by said bracket. a resilient arm or nonmagnetic material extending from said support over said bracket and carrying a contact disposed over the contact oi the bracket, said arm extending in overlapped and parallel spaced relation to the side arm or the core, and a-weight or magnetic material carried by said arm and shiftable along the same opposite the side oi the core and constituting an armature.

2. A pulsating device comprising a base, a support rising from said base, a bracket extending horizontally from the support and carrying a contact. a vibratory arm of resilient nonmagnetic material extending horizontally from said support over said bracket and provided with a contact over the first contact, posts rising Irom said base at one side oi! said arm and spaced from each other transversely o! the arm, an electro-magnet between said posts having a core provided with extended end portions secured upon the posts, one end portion of the core being formed with a side extension extending longitudinally oi said arm with said arm in spaced parallel relation to one side thereof and a weight of magnetic material slidable along the portion of said arm opposite the side extension 01' the core and constituting an armature lor the magnet, and means for securing said weight in an adjusted position in spaced relation to the free end of the arm.

JOSEPH TASCHER.

Images